Workingman's Dead
Encyclopedia
Workingman's Dead is the fourth studio album
by the Grateful Dead
. It was recorded in February 1970 and originally released on June 14, 1970.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 262 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
The album was reissued in 2003 in three different ways: as part of the The Golden Road (1965-1973)
12-CD box set, as a remastered and expanded CD, and as a DVD-audio
release. The first two contain eight exclusive tracks not found on the original 1970 release while the latter contains just the original tracks rendered in DVD-audio.
to lyricist Robert Hunter
about how "this album was turning into the Workingman's Dead version of the band,"
The band returned to the Pacific High Recording Studio in San Francisco to record the album and spent just nine days there. Garcia noted that "let's do it all in three weeks and get it the hell out of the way." Besides the weight of their debt in producing their previous album, Aoxomoxoa
, the band was also dealing with the stress of a recent drug bust in New Orleans—which could have possibly resulted in jail time—and their manager Lenny Hart
(father of drummer Mickey Hart
) skipping town with a sizable chunk of the band's wealth. "In midst of all this adverse stuff that was happening ... [recording the album] was definitely an upper," said Garcia in an interview.
Garcia has commented that much of the sound of the album comes both from his pairing with Hunter as well as the band's friendship with Crosby, Stills and Nash
. "Hearing those guys sing and how nice they sounded together, we thought, 'We can try that. Let's work on it a little,'" commented Garcia.
Songs such as "Uncle John's Band," "High Time" and "Cumberland Blues" were brought to life with soaring harmonies and layered vocal textures that had not been a part of the band's sound until now. According to the 1992 Dead oral history, Aces Back To Back, in the summer of 1968, Stephen Stills vacationed at Mickey Hart's ranch in Novato. "Stills lived with me for three months around the time of {CSN's} first record," recalls Hart, "and he and David Crosby really turned Jerry and Bobby onto the voice as the holy instrument. You know, 'Hey, is this what a voice can do?' That turned us away from pure improvisation and more toward songs."
Warner Bros. released "Uncle John's Band
" backed with "New Speedway Boogie" as a single, but it received limited airplay. This was neither, as earlier postulated, because of length issues nor concerns about profanity, since the single issue had been edited to a very radio-friendly three minute length and the word "goddamn" removed. Still, it would become the band's biggest U. S. hit single from the time of their inception until "Touch of Grey
" more than fifteen years later. "Casey Jones
" was also released as a single, but did not chart in the U. S.
Lyricist Robert Hunter appears as the seventh member on the cover of the album.
The album was voted by readers of Rolling Stone
as the best album of 1970, in front of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Déjà Vu and Van Morrison
's Moondance
.
Side one
Side two
Unreleased tracks included on the 2003 reissue:
Additional performers
Production
Bonus tracks production details
Reissue production credits
RIAA Certification
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. It was recorded in February 1970 and originally released on June 14, 1970.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 262 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
The album was reissued in 2003 in three different ways: as part of the The Golden Road (1965-1973)
The Golden Road (1965-1973)
The Golden Road is a twelve-CD boxed set retrospect of the Grateful Dead's studio and live albums during their time with Warner Bros. Records from 1965 to 1973. After 1973, the band went on to create its own label, Grateful Dead Records....
12-CD box set, as a remastered and expanded CD, and as a DVD-audio
DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio is not intended to be a video delivery format and is not the same as video DVDs containing concert films or music videos....
release. The first two contain eight exclusive tracks not found on the original 1970 release while the latter contains just the original tracks rendered in DVD-audio.
Making of the album
The title of the album comes from a comment from Jerry GarciaJerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
to lyricist Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
about how "this album was turning into the Workingman's Dead version of the band,"
The band returned to the Pacific High Recording Studio in San Francisco to record the album and spent just nine days there. Garcia noted that "let's do it all in three weeks and get it the hell out of the way." Besides the weight of their debt in producing their previous album, Aoxomoxoa
Aoxomoxoa
Aoxomoxoa is the third studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was originally titled Earthquake Country. Many Deadheads consider this era of the Dead to be the experimental apex of the band's history. It is also the first album with Tom Constanten as an official member of the band...
, the band was also dealing with the stress of a recent drug bust in New Orleans—which could have possibly resulted in jail time—and their manager Lenny Hart
Lenny Hart
Leonard "Lenny" Hart was a drummer, who owned and operated Hart Music, selling drums and musical instruments in San Carlos, California. He was the father of Mickey Hart, the percussionist for the Grateful Dead. Lenny Hart was also the Grateful Dead's original money manager. Lenny Hart was...
(father of drummer Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
) skipping town with a sizable chunk of the band's wealth. "In midst of all this adverse stuff that was happening ... [recording the album] was definitely an upper," said Garcia in an interview.
Garcia has commented that much of the sound of the album comes both from his pairing with Hunter as well as the band's friendship with Crosby, Stills and Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)
Crosby, Stills & Nash is a folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, also known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when joined by occasional fourth member Neil Young...
. "Hearing those guys sing and how nice they sounded together, we thought, 'We can try that. Let's work on it a little,'" commented Garcia.
Songs such as "Uncle John's Band," "High Time" and "Cumberland Blues" were brought to life with soaring harmonies and layered vocal textures that had not been a part of the band's sound until now. According to the 1992 Dead oral history, Aces Back To Back, in the summer of 1968, Stephen Stills vacationed at Mickey Hart's ranch in Novato. "Stills lived with me for three months around the time of {CSN's} first record," recalls Hart, "and he and David Crosby really turned Jerry and Bobby onto the voice as the holy instrument. You know, 'Hey, is this what a voice can do?' That turned us away from pure improvisation and more toward songs."
Warner Bros. released "Uncle John's Band
Uncle John's Band
"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead that first appeared in their concert setlists in late 1969. The band recorded it for their 1970 album Workingman's Dead...
" backed with "New Speedway Boogie" as a single, but it received limited airplay. This was neither, as earlier postulated, because of length issues nor concerns about profanity, since the single issue had been edited to a very radio-friendly three minute length and the word "goddamn" removed. Still, it would become the band's biggest U. S. hit single from the time of their inception until "Touch of Grey
Touch of Grey
"Touch of Grey" is a 1987 single by the Grateful Dead, and is the band's biggest commercial hit. The song is known for its refrain "I will get by / I will survive". It combines non sequitur lyrics with a pop tempo. The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the words are by Robert Hunter...
" more than fifteen years later. "Casey Jones
Casey Jones (song)
"Casey Jones" is a song by the American rock band the Grateful Dead. The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter. The song first appeared on the Dead's 1970 album Workingman's Dead. Subsequently it was included on a number of their live albums.The Grateful Dead...
" was also released as a single, but did not chart in the U. S.
Lyricist Robert Hunter appears as the seventh member on the cover of the album.
The album was voted by readers of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
as the best album of 1970, in front of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Déjà Vu and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
's Moondance
Moondance
Moondance is the third solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on Warner Bros. Records on 28 February 1970 and peaked at #29 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart....
.
Track listing
All songs written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter unless noted otherwise.Side one
- "Uncle John's BandUncle John's Band"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead that first appeared in their concert setlists in late 1969. The band recorded it for their 1970 album Workingman's Dead...
" – 4:42 - "High Time" – 5:12
- "Dire Wolf" – 3:11
- "New Speedway Boogie" – 4:01
Side two
- "Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Hunter, LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
) – 3:14 - "Black Peter" – 5:41
- "Easy Wind" (Hunter) – 4:57
- "Casey JonesCasey Jones (song)"Casey Jones" is a song by the American rock band the Grateful Dead. The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter. The song first appeared on the Dead's 1970 album Workingman's Dead. Subsequently it was included on a number of their live albums.The Grateful Dead...
" – 4:24
Unreleased tracks included on the 2003 reissue:
- "New Speedway Boogie" (alternate mix) – 4:10
- "Dire Wolf" (live) – 2:31
- "Black Peter" (live) – 9:07
- "Easy Wind" (live) – 8:09
- "Cumberland Blues" (live) – 4:52
- "Mason's Children" (live) (Garcia, Hunter, Lesh, Weir) – 6:32
- "Uncle John's Band" (live) – 7:57
- "Radio Promo" – 1:00
Personnel
Grateful Dead- Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
– guitar, banjo, pedal steel, vocals, songwriter - Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
– guitar, vocals, co-lead vocal on "Cumberland Blues" - Ron "Pigpen" McKernan – keyboards, harmonica on 6 and 7, lead vocals on 7
- Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
– bass, vocals, co-lead vocal on "Cumberland Blues" - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
– drums, percussion - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
– percussion
Additional performers
- Robert HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
– lyricist - David NelsonDavid Nelson (musician)David Nelson is an American guitarist and musician.Although he started his musical career playing folk and bluegrass music Nelson is probably best known as one of the original members of psychedelic country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage...
– guitar (acoustic)
Production
- Bob Matthews, Betty Cantor – producer
- Greg Allen, David Singer – design
- Stanley MouseStanley MouseStanley George Miller , better known as Mouse and Stanley Mouse, is an American artist, notable for his 1960s psychedelic rock concert poster designs and Grateful Dead album cover art.-Early life:...
, Henry Diltz, Amalie R. Rothschild – photography - Tom Flye, Jeffrey Norman, Rudson Shurtliff, Alembic – engineers, mixing
- Scott Heard, Ramrod – equipment technicians
- Robin Hurley – audio production
- Andrew McPherson – authoring
Bonus tracks production details
- "Dire Wolf" recorded at Santa Rosa Veteran's Memorial Hall on 6/27/1969
- "Black Peter" recorded at Golden Hall Community Concourse in San Diego on 1/10/1970
- "Easy Wind" recorded at Springer's Ballroom in Portland on 1/16/1970
- "Cumberland Blues" recorded at the Oregon State University Gym on 1/17/1970
- "Mason's Children" recorded at the Civic Auditorium in Honolulu on 1/24/1970
- "Uncle John's Band" recorded at Winterland on 10/04/1970 (incorrectly listed in sleevenotes as recorded at Winterland, 12/23/70)
Reissue production credits
- David Lemieux, James Austin – reissue producers
- Vanessa Atkins – editorial supervision
- Gary Peterson – liner note coordination
- Jo Motta – project coordinator
- Jimmy Edwards – product manager
- Joe Gastwirt – mastering, production consultant
- Daniel Goldmark – editorial research
- Eileen Law – research
- Rachel Gutek, Hugh Brown – design, reissue art directors
- Michael Wesley Johnson – associate producer
- Steve Silberman – liner notes, project assistant
- Bill Belmont, David Gans, Jeff GoldJeff GoldJeff Gold is an American record label executive, Grammy award-winning art director, music historian and archivist, and music memorabilia collector-dealer, who was executive vice president/general manager of Warner Bros...
, Bill Inglot, Blair Jackson, Gary Lambert, Steve Lang, David McLees, Hale Milgrim, Jeffrey Norman, Randy Perry, Janette L. Simmons, Owsley "Bear" Stanley – project assistants
Sales chart performance
Billboard| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Pop Albums | 27 |
RIAA Certification
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
| Certification | Date |
|---|---|
| Gold | July 11, 1974 |
| Platinum | October 13, 1986 |